Two Gypsy cars of Chandigarh police stolen

Chandigarh, May 6 (IANS) This is one embarrassment the Chandigarh police could well do without: Two of their own Gypsy jeeps have been stolen, and their officials are now probing the mysterious thefts. For a city where motor vehicle thefts are more than routine and the police have been routinely cautioning the people that they can do little if residents do not safeguard their own vehicles, the police have now learnt the lesson the hard way.

The thefts of two police Gypsys took place within a fortnight, the last one Monday night.

What is even more embarrassing for the Chandigarh police is that the latest Gypsy to be stolen belongs to the officer who heads the city police’s crime branch - perhaps the most important post in the city against crime.

The Gypsy driver, who parked the vehicle inside the police lines Monday night, found the vehicle missing Tuesday morning. Senior officials placed the driver under suspension.

A fortnight ago, a police Gypsy from the VIP security squadron was stolen from the police colony in Sector 20.

Police officials told IANS that they apprehended a particular gang of criminals was targeting the police Gypsys and could misuse these stolen vehicles. The possibility of the police Gypsys being used by the drug mafia or for terrorist incidents could not be ruled out, an official said.

“Police parties have been sent to all neighbouring states and even to Jammu and Kashmir to trace the vehicles,” deputy superintendent of police P.K. Dhawan said.